Crown Heights Labor Day/Carnival Parade

Yes, there were at least 3 shootings and innocent folks were killed and yes, its weird when detectives tape off an area and mark bullet casings on the sidewalk as marijuana and jerk chicken scents intermingle and people carry on as if nobody was just shot 10 minutes before in that very spot. But, people keep on keeping on and they surely did this last Carnival weekend. I attended J’ouvert which is a warm up to the main carnival but for many people its the main attraction and is celebrated more then the carnival parade itself. Its more folkloric in nature, starts in the middle of the night, allows all to participate and is a bit more dionysisian in its ritual and practice. I was blown away, for the first time, by steel drum bands. A hypnotic and voracious aural attack fueled by rum, paint, sweat and played on instruments crafted from left over found materials. Lots of car parts found new life as musical instruments. View a video of a steel-drum band in the parade at the end of the post.

4 am

A shooting happened minutes before at the McDonalds pictured.Shooting leftovers. (Victim was not gravely injured)